Don't Just Tailgate, Tailgate Better

When it comes to tailgating there are a number of things on short supply. Running water and electricity are two of those things. And although running water is the most rare commodity while tailgating, the dearth of power in the parking lots has been solved by bringing portable generators to stadiums and arenas. The main problem with generators? They are typically big, bulky, emit noxious fumes and the most annoying aspect, they are typically loud.

Go anywhere in the tailgating parking lots and the generator you will see most is the Honda EU series. Honda struck gold when they rolled out the EU series with the highly desirable combination of fuel efficiency and noise reduction. But with high quality came a hefty price tag. For example, the Honda EU2000i Generator typically costs $1,300 but you know what they say, “You get what you pay for”. The Honda EU Series became the de facto gold standard by which all portable generators were judged based on the muffler and lack of noise output.

We recently had the opportunity to test and review the Ryobi RYI 2200 Digital Inverter Generator and put it through its paces in a simulated tailgating environment. Naturally we wanted to compare it to a Honda EU series generator to see how it stacks up side by side when it comes to noise output. Here is the video review we put together comparing the Ryobi RYI 2200 to a Honda EU 1000i generator.

(Disclaimer:We received a sample Ryobi RYI 2200 for free. The fact this sample was provided without charge in no way influenced our opinion of the product nor did it impact our ability to test and review the Ryobi RYI 2200 fairly and objectively.)

If you chose to skip the video, it is safe to say the Ryobi RYI 2200 is “Tailgate Approved”. In the video we compared the Ryobi generator to a Honda EU 1000 generator. Although it was not an apples to apples comparison seeing how the Ryobi puts out a maximum wattage twice that of the Honda we were comparing it to, that was by design. Common reasoning would assume that a generator that puts out double the wattage would in turn, produce twice the noise. That was not the case with the Ryobi. We found the Ryobi RYI 2200 to be just as quiet as the Honda and the added bonus is that the maximum load is 2200 watts compared to just 1000 watts.

Here are some specs for those of you wanting the low down on all the features of the Ryobi RYI 2200:

Another great feature of the Ryobi that we found to be superior to the Honda is that is comes with rear wheels and a telescoping luggage handle that allows for ease of transportation. The handles on the top allow it to be easily moved into place once you are parked but the rear wheels makes it a breeze to roll it to the opposite end of your vehicle and away from your tailgate party guests.

Now comes the real clincher. The Ryobi RYI 2200 sells for nearly half the cost of the Honda EU 2000i. Exclusively sold through Home Depot, the Ryobi RYI 2200 sell for around $599.00. Compare that to the Honda EU 2000i that normally sells for around $1,300. (A quick search on Amazon.com and we found one priced at$1,285.74)

Based on the power, fuel efficiency, noise abatement and overall the more affordable price, we are going to deem the Ryobi RYI 2200 definitely “Tailgate Approved”.

The added power and functions of this generator and the ability to be a good tailgating neighbor with low noise output, we are now considering the Ryobi will be a replacement for the Honda EU 1000 as our “go to” generator for future tailgate parties. The ability to watch the early games on TV and still be able to mix up a batch of margaritas in a blender without worrying about maxing out the power load on the generator makes for a more enjoyable tailgate party.

To learn more about the Ryobi RYI 2200 visit, ryobitools.com. To buy one of your own, visit HomeDepot.com or just walk into your local Home Depot and head towards the tools aisle.

About a month ago we introduced you to the Eastern Tools & Equipment IN 1800i Portable Generator; a light and portable generator designed for ease of transport and perfect for tailgating. Now we would like to introduce you to the Eastern Tools & Equipment LPG 3500 Portable Generator. The major differences between these two quality generators are that the ETQ LPG 3500 puts out almost double the wattage of the ETQ IN 1800i and is fuel by liquid propane gas. Yes, you read that correctly. The same propane that can fire up your tailgating grill is the same propane fuel that can power up your tailgating electronics. (Click on the image at left to see a more detailed view of the ETQ LPG 3500)

Earlier this summer when I was touring the Eastern Tools & Equipment Ontario Calif. facility, I had the opportunity to view the array of products they offer including power pumps, air compressors, power washers and a number of generators. When I saw the ETQ LPG 3500 I immediately thought of the convenience this generator would provide to tailgating community. Many of us would like to bring a generator with us tailgating but the extra hassle of having to get unleaded gasoline, filling a gas can, bringing it to the tailgating parking lot, filling the generator, etc., etc. can be a bit too much. With the ETQ LPG 3500 all you need to do is bring two propane tanks tailgating; one for your grill and the other for your generator, and you are good to go.

The connection from the generator to the propane tank is exactly the same as the one on your BBQ grill. With propane as your generator’s fuel of choice, there are no worries about the potential of gasoline splashing or spilling out of your gas can on the way to the game. Also, the exhaust from propane is much cleaner and less intrusive than the exhaust you may experience with a gasoline burning generator. Two other major benefits of the ETQ LPG 3500 is the higher wattage output and the increased run time. With a full propane tank you can expect to get about 13.5 hours of run time while running at 50 percent load. Perfect for those college football tailgaters that get to the tailgate lot at the crack of dawn for those night ESPN games.

I had the opportunity to test out the ETQ LPG 3500 in a mock tailgating situation. I chose to test it out using my home microwave because of the higher watt output the ETQ LPG 3500 can handle. Normally you don’t see microwave ovens in the tailgate parking because they normally demand too much electricity. I found out that with an ETQ LPG 3500 you don’t have to leave those high wattage appliances at home anymore.

For those of you that would like to know the down and dirty details and specifications on this portable propane generator, they are:

3500 Watt starting with 3000 Watt continuous

13.5 hours running time at 50% load

Propane generator creates LPG eco-friendly energy

ETQ’s Sine Power delivers clean and steady current ideal for sensitive electronics

ETQ’s Sine Power delivers clean electricity with low THD waveform

Engine Model – 170F

Engine Type – Single Cylinder, 4 stroke, 208cc 7HP OHV, air cooled

Engine Displacement – 208 cc

Fuel Tank Capacity – 20 Pound Tank

Continuous Output – 3000 Watt; Surge – 3500 Watt

Rated Current @ 120 V – 25 Amp @ 120 Volts

Max Current @ 120 V – 29.17 Amp @ 120 Volts

Rated Current @ 240 V – 12.5 Amp @ 240 Volts

Max Current @ 240 V – 14.58 Amp @ 240 Volts

Noise Level @ 23 ft – 65 db

Dimensions – 23.3″ — 17″ — 17.5″

Weight – 103 lbs

Comes complete with a 1 year limited manufacturer warranty.

Tailgaters can get their own ETQ LPG 3500 portable generator in stores at Menards and Northern Tools + Equipment. If you prefer to shop online, you can pick up the ETQ LPG 3500 at Northern Tool + Equipment, The Home Depot, Amazon.com and Sam’s Club. The cheapest price we saw online was on Amazon or HomeDepot.com and both had the ETQ LPG 3500 priced at $399.

To learn more about the ETQ LPG 3500 or any of the other products Eastern Tools & Equipment manufactures, visit their official website, EasternTools.com.

Many of us love tailgating because it is a combination of camping with a sporting event or concert mixed it. The problem is that while you are “roughing it” you have to sacrifice many of the comforts of your own home. The main comfort that tailgaters typically do without is electricity. The cigarette lighter outlets in most cars, trucks and SUVs don’t put out enough wattage to power up appliances like a portable air conditioner, blenders, crock pots or even microwaves. But if you have a portable generator, you can bring your own electrical supply and power up all the home appliances you like. I recently had the pleasure to test out and review a portable generator made by Eastern Tools & Equipment, the ETQ IN 1800i. Cut to the chase, it met and exceeded my expectations for a lightweight yet powerful portable generator.

Eastern Tools & Equipment also makes power pumps, air compressors, power washers and a number of generators. The ETQ IN 1800i is ideal for tailgating because it is lightweight, compact and puts out a maximum of 1800 watts. 1800 watts is plenty of power to supply all types of tailgating electronics. Obviously you will need to check the wattage consumption on your electrical devices you would like to bring tailgating to make sure they do not combine to exceed the maximum 1800 watts of the ETQ IN 1800i. (It generally accepted that you need to budget for about 1600 watts in order not to overload the generator and suffer a shut-down.)

Most people will set up a flat screen TV along with a portable satellite system and satellite receiver/DVR while tailgating to keep abreast on the other games going on simultaneously. All these electronics will require power and the ETQ IN 1800i provides plenty of power for those. You can even bring a higher wattage accessory, like a blender to make margaritas, and the ETQ IN 1800i will handle that demand while maintaining consistent and uninterrupted power to your sensitive electronics. The 3% THD pure sine wave output ensures the safety of highly sensitive electronics will not suffer and break due to a power surge.

I tested out the ETQ IN 1800i portable generator to see how well it could handle differing levels of demand. I set up a mock tailgating party in my backyard (the only thing missing was my SUV with the Freedom Grill FG-50 attached to it) and hooked up a few highly sensitive electronics along with a high demand appliance, my bar quality 500 watt blender. Check out the video to see how the ETQ IN 1800i handled it.

For those of you that need to know the nitty gritty details and specs on this portable generator, they are:

The Eastern Tools & Equipment IN 1800i is equipped with permanent magnet alternator and an OHV gasoline combustion engine.

Electricity is generated by turning the rotor outside the stator to change the magnetic flux thus generated DC and convert into AC output.

Tailgaters can get their own ETQ IN 1800i portable digital inverter generator in stores at Menards and Northern Tools + Equipment. If you prefer to shop online, you can pick up the ETQ IN 1800i at Northern Tools + Equipment, SportsmansGuide.com, The Home Depot, Amazon.com and Sam’s Club. The cheapest price we saw online was on Amazon or HomeDepot.com and both had the ETQ IN 1800i priced at $499.

Make sure to check back in a few weeks as we will be testing out and reviewing another generator from Eastern Tools & Equipment. That one will be the ETQ Portable Propane Generator. You read that right. A generator that is powered by propane. The same type of propane tank you are already taking to the tailgating lot can give you pure electrical power while tailgating. Wait, I am already getting ahead of myself. Check back soon for the full product review or you can subscribe to get free updates via RSS or email to ensure you won’t miss the update.

To learn more about the ETQ IN 1800i or any of the other products Eastern Tools & Equipment manufactures, visit their official website, EasternTools.com.

As tailgaters, I think it is safe to say that Honda generators are the gold standard when it comes to portable electrical power. The term “Honda” has become synonymous with generators much like Band-Aid is used in place of bandages or Kleenex is used in lieu of facial tissue. The folks at Honda recently introduced the EU3000i Handi Generator, an addition to the popular Honda Super Quiet Series of portable generators. The new EU3000i Handi adds increased portability to the fuel efficiency and reliability of Honda’s existing EU3000i generator.

Compared to the Honda EU3000i generator, the EU3000i Handi unit is approximately 45% lighter with a dry weight of only 77.6 pounds. That’s a significant reduction in weight for a unit producing the same power output. This weight reduction lends itself to a recoil start system as opposed to a recoil electric start system. A lighter generator is a more portable generator, and the EU3000i Handi now allows tailgaters to more easily take the generator anywhere they need portable power.

In an all-new design for Honda, the EU3000i Handi features built-in wheels, two fixed handles and a folding handle to allow for easy movement of the generator from place to place and from parking spot to parking spot. When one person uses the folding handle to wheel the generator, its total towing weight is about 17 and a half pounds. That’s easily manageable by all tailgaters. Two people can conveniently carry the EU3000i Handi with the unit’s fixed handles or one person can more easily load and unload the unit from a storage spot using both handles for optimal leverage.

In relation to generator innovation, Honda engineers have employed the latest in Eco-Throttle technology and a high efficiency inverter design in the EU3000i Handi. That results in very low fuel consumption for a generator of its power output. The EU3000i Handi can operate on one 1.56 gallon tank of fuel for more than four hours.

At the heart of the new EU3000i Handi is the powerful Honda GX160 engine. With the GX160, the Honda EU3000i Handi provides an economical, quiet and efficient powerplant to complement the generator’s technology and advanced design. As is the case with all Honda power equipment engines, the GX160 provides reliable, 4-cycle power to the unit. An overhead valve (OHV) system in the GX160 incorporates advanced engine technologies in a compact package. Coupled with the EU3000i Handi’s specially designed housing, the generator is able to produce ample power for all your electronics with very little noise. In fact, Honda claims the EU3000i Handi is the quietest generator in its market segment, producing a mere 56-65 dB of sound while in operation.

The Honda EU3000i Handi Generator will be available in late May at Honda Power Equipment Dealers at a suggested retail price of $2199.00. Although these units are not available yet, I do have a request into Honda to test one out personally. Once I get one I will put it through its paces in a normal tailgating environment and let you know if it lives up to the claims.

And just because it still makes me laugh, I decided to include this commercial for Honda Generators that I discovered back in June 2008.

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About Me

TailgatingIdeas.com is a tailgating blog dedicated to bringing you the latest and most intriguing tailgating ideas out there. Whether it is the latest tailgating gear reviews, a great new recipe or a funny list to make you smile, our goal is to inform and entertain the avid and the casual tailgater alike.

Started in August 2007 by tailgating enthusiast Dave Lamm, TailgatingIdeas.com has evolved into an advocate for tailgaters rights and is not afraid to touch on controversial issues confronting those who frequent the tailgating parking lots.

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